More than $200,000 in grants get early approval by Paso council

The Paso Robles City Council on Tuesday approved a preliminary list of projects for its share of 2012 Community Development Block Grant funding worth an estimated $237,838.

Among the council’s recommendations for the money, to be available in the spring, are sidewalk improvements in Turtle Creek Park along Brookhill Drive on the city’s eastside and various handicap ramps andlighted crosswalks within the city.

The city can also award 15 percent of the money to local nonprofit groups that applied for the funding in October. The council on Tuesdayselected March 8 as the date for a public hearing to select the finalgrant recipients.

The grants require that:

at least 70 percent of funds be spent on activities that benefitthose with low income;

no more than 30 percent be spent on activities that eliminate blight;

no more than 15 percent be spent on public service activities, suchas nonprofit programs;

no more than 20 percent be used for administrative uses.

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